East Alton, IL– May 14, 2025– West Star Aviation is thrilled to announce that its West Star Aviation Academy (WSAA), a program dedicated to training and developing the next generation of Aircraft Maintenance Technicians, has been awarded the prestigious Aviation Week Program Excellence Award for its innovative approach. This accolade was presented last night at the annual Defense Conference in Washington, D.C., where WSAA was celebrated among the top programs in the aerospace and defense industry.

The Aviation Week Program Excellence Awards honor teams and leaders who drive innovation, overcome challenges, and deliver exceptional results in the face of a changing landscape. The recognition of WSAA reflects the program’s dedication to addressing the Aircraft Maintenance Technician shortage while enhancing the skills and employability of its graduates.

Katie Johnson, Chief People Officer at West Star Aviation and the driving force behind WSAA, expressed her enthusiasm: “Winning the Aviation Week Program Excellence Award is an incredible achievement for our team and our graduates This award reaffirms our commitment to the community, our customers and the industry as we remove barriers to grow our workforce organically. We believe that by investing in our people through innovative education and training, we are not only improving our operations and the safety of flight but also empowering individuals to build successful careers in aviation.”

Since its inception in January 2024, WSAA has successfully graduated two cohorts, providing aspiring technicians with hands-on experience and an accelerated learning environment. The program’s unique model combines intensive classroom instruction with practical training, allowing students to focus on developing essential aviation skills while being employed full-time.

“This recognition will inspire us to continue our groundbreaking work in aviation education and workforce development,” Johnson added. “We are grateful to everyone involved in making this program a success, including our community partners and educational institutions. We also want to extend our sincere thanks to Aviation Week for the opportunity to be part of this prestigious awards ceremony and for showcasing so many other innovative companies that are driving our industry forward.”

With the spotlight on WSAA’s achievements, West Star Aviation remains dedicated to expanding its initiatives and cultivating the skills of the next generation of aviation professionals.

About West Star Aviation
With more than 78 years of industry experience, West Star Aviation stands as a leading independent Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) provider. Employing over 3,000 professionals, West Star offers comprehensive services from our strategically located full-service facilities in East Alton, IL; Grand Junction, CO; Chattanooga, TN; Millville, NJ; Perryville, MO; and Statesville, NC, as well as satellite locations in Denver, Houston, Minneapolis, and Chicago. The company’s extensive capabilities encompass maintenance, paint, interior, and avionics services, supported by the largest Aircraft On Ground (AOG) network in the country, ensuring prompt and reliable mobile repair services nationwide.

East Alton, IL– April 17, 2025– West Star Aviation is thrilled to announce that the company has once again been voted as the #1 Preferred Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) provider in the 2025 Professional Pilot Magazine’s Annual Preference Regarding Aviation Services and Equipment (PRASE) survey. This remarkable achievement marks the 10th time West Star has received this honor since 2014, cementing our status as a leader in the business aviation industry.

Professional Pilot magazine, a trusted source for pilots and aviation professionals worldwide, conducts the PRASE survey annually. It invites industry professionals to share their experiences regarding various aviation service providers, recognizing excellence based on performance quality and company knowledge.

“It’s a privilege to be recognized for the 10th time. This award reflects the incredible support from our customers and the commitment of our employees. I want to thank our team for their hard work, passion, and dedication, as well as our customers for their trust. With a legacy of 78 years, we take pride in the extensive knowledge and experience within West Star Aviation. We are truly grateful for this incredible honor. Our employees are the backbone of this company, and I am just so insanely proud of everyone. Thank you to our employees and our customers for believing in and trusting us,” said Stephen Maiden, CEO of West Star Aviation.

In addition to recognizing our dedicated employees, the award emphasizes the invaluable relationships we have built with our customers over nearly eight decades in this remarkable industry. “West Star strives to achieve excellence with every customer interaction and the effort our team puts forth across every level of our company to meet this bar is incredible. Safety and Quality are our top priority and we are committed to delivering not just excellence in service, but also ensuring that our employees and customers are safe,” stated Allen McReynolds, President and COO of West Star Aviation. “We want to express our immense gratitude to our customers for choosing and trusting us and for their ongoing partnership; these relationships mean the world to us.”

West Star Aviation thanks everyone involved in our journey to being recognized as the leading MRO for a decade. We are excited to continue working diligently, providing superior maintenance and repair services, and enhancing safety standards across the industry moving forward.

About West Star Aviation
With more than 78 years of industry experience, West Star Aviation stands as a leading independent Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) provider. Employing over 3,000 professionals, West Star offers comprehensive services from our strategically located full-service facilities in East Alton, IL; Grand Junction, CO; Chattanooga, TN; Millville, NJ; Perryville, MO; and Statesville, NC, as well as satellite locations in Denver, Houston, Minneapolis, and Chicago. The company’s extensive capabilities encompass maintenance, paint, interior, and avionics services, supported by the largest Aircraft On Ground (AOG) network in the country, ensuring prompt and reliable mobile repair services nationwide.